EHR Security

July 28, 2015 - As the push for HIE continues, it is important to not lose sight of EHR security, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA). In a letter to Congress, the AHA explained that it is important to strengthen the existing policy framework to further promote HIE usage. The AHA specifically highlighted several areas that need to be considered as health IT continues to evolve and HIE further...

Articles

A recent study found a way to ensure that secure EHR data can be exchanged and linked across multiple sites, improving patient care and further benefitting future research. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association,...

The push for interoperability will increase EHR security risks, according to a nationwide patient advocacy group. The Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom states that new EHR interoperability requirements will potentially make it easier...

Improving EHR privacy and security are part of the reason behind the forming of a new bi-partisan committee working group. Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member Patty Murray announced last week that the group is...

CMS released its Stage 3 Meaningful Use proposal last month, with numerous aspects that covered entities (CEs) need to be aware of and pay attention to. While the proposal has a large focus on EHR interoperability, it continues to build on the...

Minnesota is currently one of two states with an EHR interoperability law, requiring providers to not only use EHRs, but also connect to a state-certified health information organization. However, critics claim that patients’ medical data would...

Regardless of an organization’s size, it’s essential that all healthcare privacy and security needs are taken into account in order to create a comprehensive and secure system. A holistic approach that reviews an organization’s technology...

The Supreme Court has dismissed a class action suit for medical identity theft filed against St. Joseph Health System (SJHS), a healthcare facility in Texas. According to a report on Courthousenews.com, Beverly Peters, a patient of SJHS, filed...

Last week, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) received a $450,000 grant from The Commonwealth Fund to develop an interactive, yet still secure health data program. Specifically, BIDMC will be working with OurNotes, a tool that gives...

The American Medical Association (AMA) is at the forefront of a group of healthcare organizations pushing for better EHR certification security measures, along with other recommendations for changes in the EHR certification program. One of the...

Whether a healthcare organization is working toward Stage 1 or Stage 2 Meaningful Use, it is essential for the facility to remain aware of the latest EHR security concerns. As more entities become interconnected through health information exchanges,...

Facilities are working hard to keep pace with federal regulations for secure healthcare technology. It is not enough to simply install an EHR, but healthcare organizations need to prove that they are using it properly and in a way that keeps...

A recent paper asks whether there is EHR confidentiality for adolescents. There are an increasing amount of potential EHR confidentiality issues for adolescents and their parents, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association viewpoint...

The majority of pediatricians do not cite EHR security issues as a main barrier to implementation. Ensuring EHR security should be a top priority for healthcare organizations of all sizes. As more technological options become available, and as...

Two organizations are collaborating to improve medical device cybersecurity. The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Technological Leadership Institute (TLI)...

Consumer Watchdog has raised concerns over a California HIE and potential patient privacy concerns. When implementing a new electronic health record (EHR), patient privacy and security issues should be a top priority for healthcare organizations....

Organizations cannot ease up on their healthcare IT security measures, especially when it comes to patient portals. This is a way for individuals to gain access to their protected health information (PHI) and even securely communicate with their...

Congress attempts to block hospital system sale due to PHI security concerns. Eighteen members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation have written a letter to Attorney General, Kamala D. Harris in an attempt to block Prime Healthcare from...

A recent survey found that more consumers trust the health IT tools that their primary doctors use. Not only are more consumers accessing their online electronic health records (EHRs), but patients’ trust in the privacy and security of EHRs...

As hospitals and healthcare systems continue to implement new technologies, it is likely just a matter of time before interoperability is a hurdle they must overcome as well. Data sharing and the safe transport and exchange of patients’ protected...